This is your
Employment
Agreement (this “Agreement”) with Liz
Claiborne, Inc. (the " Company ”). It sets forth the
terms and conditions of your employment with the Company and its
subsidiaries and affiliates from time to time (together, the
“ Group ”) during the term of your employment
with the Company (the “ Term of Employment
”).
1. Your
Position, Performance and Other Activities.
(a)
Position. At all times during the Term of Employment, you
will (i) hold the title and office of, and serve in the
position of, Chief Executive Officer of the Company (“
CEO ”), and (ii) serve as a member of the Board
of Directors of the Company (the “ Board
”).
(b)
Authority, Responsibilities and Reporting. At all times
during the Term of Employment, you will report directly and solely
to the Board, and will perform such duties and services as a
director and the CEO (including services as an officer, director or
equivalent position of any subsidiary, affiliated company or
venture of the Group, without additional compensation) as the Board
will reasonably and lawfully request consistent with your position.
You will be based at the Company’s principal executive
offices, currently in New York, New York, subject to reasonable and
customary travel requirements. Your performance will be reviewed
periodically by the Board.
(c)
Performance. During the Term of Employment, you agree to
(i) devote your full business time and attention and best
efforts to the business and affairs of the Group and to faithfully
and diligently perform, using your best efforts, all of your duties
and responsibilities; (ii) abide by all applicable policies of
the Group from time to time in effect; and (iii) not take any
action or conduct yourself in any
manner which
would tend to harm the reputation or goodwill of the
Group.
(d)
Other Activities. During the Term of Employment, you may
(i) serve, but only with the express written prior approval of
the Board (which shall not be unreasonably withheld), as director,
trustee or member of a committee of any business organization if
such service involves no conflict of interest with the interests of
the Group; (ii) engage in charitable and community activities;
and (iii) manage your personal investments and affairs;
provided that such activities do not, individually or collectively,
materially interfere with the performance of your duties and
responsibilities of your employment or otherwise constitute
restricted activities under Sections 7 and 8 as contemplated
by this Agreement. You hereby represent that you have disclosed all
of your current board affiliations to the Company prior to entering
into this Agreement.
2. Term of
Your Employment.
Your
employment under this Agreement will begin on November 6, 2006
(the “ Start Date ”) and end at the close of
business on the earlier of the third anniversary of your Start Date
or the effective date of early termination of your employment in
accordance with Section 5 hereof (the " Initial Term
”). The Company may provide you notice of its intent to
extend and renew the Term of Employment beyond the conclusion of
(i) the Initial Term or (ii) any extension of the Term of
Employment (in all cases, a “ Renewal Notice ”)
at least 90 days prior to the end of the Initial Term or the
end of any extension of the Term of Employment after the Initial
Term.
(a)
Salary. During the Term of Employment, you will receive an
annualized base salary (your “ Salary ”) of not
less than $1,300,000. The Company will review your Salary annually
and may increase it at any time. However, your Salary may not be
decreased at any time (including after any increase), and any
increase in your Salary will not reduce or limit any other
obligation to you under this Agreement. Your Salary will be paid in
accordance with the Group’s normal practices for senior
executives.
(b)
Bonus. During the Term of Employment, you will participate,
in accordance with and subject to the terms and conditions thereof
and the provisions of this Agreement, in the Company’s
Section 162(m) Cash Bonus Plan; provided that you will be eligible
for a pro-rata award under the Company’s Section 162(m) Cash
Bonus Plan for the performance results during 2006 at your Target
Threshold (as defined below). Your target bonus under such Section
162(m) Plan for each fiscal year of your employment (including a
bonus for fiscal year 2006 prorated by the number of days remaining
in calendar year 2006 as of your Start Date) will be 100% of your
Salary. For each such year, the Compensation Committee of the Board
(the “ Compensation Committee ”) will establish
a target performance threshold (the “ Target Threshold
”), a minimum performance threshold (the "
Minimum
Threshold ”) and a maximum performance threshold
(the “ Maximum Threshold ”). All such thresholds
will be determined in good faith by the Compensation Committee.
Your bonus (the " Bonus ”) will be computed in the
following manner for each such year:
(1) If
the performance results for such year are below the Minimum
Threshold, you will receive no Bonus for such year;
(2) If
the performance results for such year equal the Minimum Threshold,
you will receive a Bonus of 50% of your Salary for such
year;
(3) If
the performance results for such year equal the Target Threshold,
you will receive a Bonus of 100% of your Salary for such
year;
(4) If
the performance results for such year equals or exceeds the Maximum
Threshold, you will receive a bonus (the “ Maximum
Bonus ”) of 200% of your Salary for such year;
and
(5) If
the performance results for such year fall between the Thresholds
set forth herein, you will receive a Bonus as determined by the
Compensation Committee, which will be an amount based on straight
line interpolation based on the actual performance results and the
Bonus percentages established herein.
(c) Initial
Equity Awards.
(1) In addition to
your Salary and Bonus, and as an inducement to your agreement to
join the Company as its CEO, on your Start Date, you will be
granted options to purchase 185,200 shares of the Company’s
common stock (your “ FMV Sign-On Options ”) with
an exercise price equal to the fair market value of the
Company’s common stock at the close of business on the Start
Date, granted options to purchase 63,150 shares of the
Company’s common stock (your “ Premium Sign-On
Options ”) with an exercise price equal to 1.2 multiplied
by the fair market value of the Company’s common stock at the
close of business on the Start Date, (C) awarded 76,355
restricted shares of the Company’s common stock (your “
Make-Whole Restricted Stock ”) and (D) awarded
62,500 restricted shares of the Company’s common stock (your
“ Other Restricted Stock ”).
(2) The terms of
your FMV Sign-On Options, Premium Sign-On Options (together, the
“ Sign-On Options ”), Make-Whole Restricted
Stock and your Other Restricted Stock are set forth in the Award
Letters attached hereto as Exhibits (A), (B), (C) and
(D).
(3) All shares of
Company common stock acquired pursuant to the exercise of options
(including the Sign-On Options) and the vesting and delivery of
stock awards (excluding the Make-Whole Restricted Stock but
including the Other Restricted Stock) will be subject to the
following restrictions on sale and transferability (except as
limited below): With
respect to any
exercise of options prior to December 31, 2009 and any stock
that vests and is delivered prior to December 31, 2009, you
will be immediately permitted to sell only 25% of (A) with
respect to options, the net shares acquired pursuant to such
exercise, and (B) with respect to stock, the net shares
acquired pursuant to the vesting and delivery of such restricted
stock or restricted stock units, and you must retain the remainder
of the net shares in accordance with the following: you will be
permitted to sell half of such remaining net shares only on or
after December 31, 2009, and you will be permitted to sell the
remaining half of such remaining net shares only on or after
December 31, 2010. With respect to any exercise of options or
any stock that vests and is delivered on or after December 31,
2009 but prior to December 31, 2010, you will be immediately
permitted to sell 62.5% of the net shares, and you will be
permitted to sell the remaining 37.5% of such net shares only on or
after December 31, 2010.
The foregoing
restrictions on sale and transferability will be limited by each of
the following: (x) you will be permitted at any time to
transfer shares to any one or more of your spouse, children, or
grandchildren, one or more trusts for the primary benefit of you or
any or all of them, or limited partnerships or other entities
wholly-owned by you or any one or more of the individuals or
entities referred to in this clause (x), provided that such
transferred shares will be deemed to be held by you for purposes of
the restrictions on sale and transfer under this
Section 3(c)(3), (y) the restrictions on sale and transfer
will not apply to any involuntary transfer or a transfer by
operation of law, such as upon the consummation of a merger or
other change in control of the Company or in connection with a
bankruptcy proceeding, and (z) the restrictions on sale and
transfer will automatically terminate upon your death or your
Disability. Additionally, upon a termination of your employment by
the Company without Cause or by you for Good Reason, the Company
will determine in good faith whether to waive the foregoing
restrictions on sale and transferability, it being agreed that the
Company will, in making such determination, operate under a
presumption that such restrictions will generally be
waived.
For purposes of
this Section 3(c)(3), the (1) “net shares acquired
pursuant” to a stock option exercise will mean (A) the
number of shares which are purchased pursuant to such exercise
minus (B) any such shares which are not distributed to you in
order to satisfy applicable tax withholding or in order to pay the
exercise price (or which are sold by you to reimburse yourself or
any advance of any such withholding or exercise price) and (2)
“net shares acquired pursuant to” the vesting and
delivery of restricted stock or restricted stock units will mean
(C) the number of shares that actually vest minus (D) any
such shares which are not distributed to you in order to satisfy
applicable tax withholding (or which are sold by you to reimburse
yourself for any advance of any such withholding).
(d)
Initial Bonus. On your Start Date, the Company will pay you
an initial cash bonus of $400,000.
(e)
Other Executive Compensation Plans. During the Term of
Employment, you will be entitled to participate in all of the
Group’s executive compensation plans, including any
management incentive plans, deferred compensation plans,
supplemental retirement plans and stock and stock option plans, on
a basis that is at least as favorable as that provided to other
senior executives of the Group (for purposes of clarity and for the
avoidance of doubt, you will be granted equity awards relating to
the Company’s normal-cycle grant of equity awards that will
be granted in calendar year 2007 (i) in the same equity mix as
other senior executives of the Group, (ii) commensurate with
your position as CEO, and (iii) at a value not less than the
value of equity awards granted to any other employee of the
Company). Stock options and restricted shares and/or all other
equity which may be granted to other senior executives of the Group
(“ Equity Awards ”) from and after the Start
Date shall be granted to you at the same time and subject to the
terms and conditions (including vesting schedules) that are
substantially identical to those Equity Awards granted to such
other senior executives.
4. Other
Employee Benefits.
(a)
Vacation. You will be entitled to paid annual vacation
during the Term of Employment (totaling at least four weeks a year,
prorated for 2006) on a basis that is at least as favorable as that
provided to other senior officers of the Group.
(b)
Business Expenses. The Company will reimburse you during the
Term of Employment, in accordance with its standard senior officer
policies from time to time in effect, for such reasonable and
necessary vouchered out-of-pocket business expenses as may be
incurred by you during the Term of Employment in the performance of
your duties and responsibilities under this Agreement. The Company
will pay directly or reimburse you for all attorneys’ fees,
disbursements and costs incurred by you in connection with the
negotiation, preparation and execution of this Agreement and other
related documents, up to a maximum of $40,000, subject to proper
documentation.
(c)
Travel and Transportation. During the Term of Employment,
the Company will provide you with appropriate ground transportation
at the level provided to the Company’s CEO as of the date
hereof. Your air travel will be subject to the Company’s
travel policy in effect from time to time.
(d)
Housing . During the Term of Employment, the Company will
provide you with the use of an appropriate Company-owned or leased
apartment in New York City.
(e)
Employee Benefit Plans. During the Term of Employment, you
and your family will participate, generally on the same basis as
other senior officers of the Group, in accordance with and subject
to the respective terms and conditions thereof as to eligibility
and otherwise, in the Company’s retirement, medical,
dental,
vision,
long-term disability and life insurance programs (subject in the
case of life insurance to insurability at standard rates) and
employee discount purchase program.
(f)
Plans May be Changed. Your rights under this Agreement with
respect to the Company’s Section 162(m) Cash Bonus Plan,
401(k) Savings Plan, Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan,
Incentive Plan, medical, dental, vision, long-term disability and
life insurance programs and other programs, perquisites and
policies shall not preclude the Group from modifying or terminating
any such program, perquisite or policy, subject to your right, in
accordance with the terms of this Agreement, to participate in or
be eligible for such program, perquisite or policy as so modified
or any replacement thereof; provided, however, that if the
Company’s Section 162(m) Cash Bonus Plan, Supplemental
Executive Retirement Plan, or Incentive Plan are terminated or
modified in any material adverse respect with respect to your
compensation opportunities, benefits, or other rights such that
your overall package of compensation and benefits is materially
adversely affected, the Company shall provide you with an
alternative or substitute plan or arrangement such that your
overall package of compensation and benefits is not materially
adversely affected.
5. Early
Termination of Your Employment.
(a)
No Reason Required. You or the Company may terminate your
employment prior to the end of the Term of Employment at any time
for any reason, or for no reason, subject to the terms and
conditions of this Agreement.
(b)
Termination by the Company for Cause.
(1) “
Cause ” means any of the following:
(A) Your willful
or intentional failure or refusal to perform or observe any of your
material duties, responsibilities or obligations set forth in, or
as contemplated under, the Agreement, if such breach is not cured,
if curable, within 30 days after notice thereof to you by the
Company;
(B) Any willful or
intentional act or any willful or intentional failure to act,
either of which of a material nature, involving fraud,
misrepresentation, theft, embezzlement, dishonesty or moral
turpitude (collectively, “ Fraud ”) affecting
the Group or any customer, supplier or employee of the
Group;
(C) Your
conviction of (or plea of nolo contendere to) an offense
which is a felony in the jurisdiction involved or a misdemeanor in
the jurisdiction involved but which involves moral
turpitude;
(D) Any willful or
intentional act which could reasonably be expected to materially
injure the reputation, business or business relationships of the
Group, or your reputation or business
relationships,
if such breach is not cured, if curable, within 30 days after
notice thereof to you by the Company;
(E) Your willful
or intentional failure to comply with any reasonable and lawful
request or direction of the Board not contrary to the provisions of
this Agreement and the policies of the Company, if such breach is
not cured, if curable, within 30 days after notice thereof to you
by the Company.
For this
definition, no act, or failure to act, on your part will be deemed
“willful” or “intentional” unless done, or
omitted to be done, by you without reasonable belief that your
action or omission was in the best interests of the
Group.
(2) To
terminate your employment “for Cause”, the Board must
determine in good faith that Cause has occurred after endeavor in
good faith to provide you with a prompt hearing before the Board
(at which you may be accompanied by counsel) prior to such
determination.
(3) The
Company may place you on paid leave for up to 30 consecutive days
while it is determining whether there is a basis to terminate your
employment for Cause. This leave will not constitute Good
Reason.
(c)
Termination by You for Good Reason.
(1) “
Good Reason ” means any of the following:
(A) A change so
that your are no longer serving as the CEO or a member of the
Board, a change so that you no longer report solely and directly to
the Board, or the assignment to you of duties inconsistent with
your position (including as director) as described in
Section 1 of this Agreement, in any case without your prior
written consent, which is not cured within 20 days after
written notice of such circumstances by you to the
Company;
(B) A significant
adverse change in the nature or scope of your authority, power,
function, duties or responsibilities as CEO, without your prior
written consent, which is not cured within 20 days after
written notice of such circumstances by you to the
Company;
(C) The
Company’s moving its principal executive offices by more than
35 miles if such move increases your commuting distance by more
than 35 miles;
(D) A material
breach by the Company of any of its material obligations under this
Agreement which is not cured within 20 days after written
notice thereof is given by you to the Company; or
(E) The failure of
the Company to timely renew the Term of Employment at the end of
the Initial Term or at the end of any extension period of the Term
of Employment after the Initial Term, in accordance with
Section 2 hereof.
(2) To terminate
your employment “for Good Reason”, Good Reason must
have occurred. Unless you will give the Company notice of any event
which, after any applicable notice and the lapse of any applicable
20-day grace period, would constitute Good Reason within
180 days of your first knowing of the event, such event will
cease to be an event constituting Good Reason. Subject to the
Company’s cure rights described above, you may terminate your
employment by written notice to the Company at any time that Good
Reason for the termination exists.
(d)
Termination on Disability or Death.
(1) Your
employment will terminate, at the Group’s option, by written
notice to you (or your legal representative) upon your Disability.
“ Disability ” means your inability to perform
your duties and responsibilities as contemplated under this
Agreement for a period of more than 180 consecutive days due to
physical or mental incapacity or impairment. A determination of
Disability will be made by a licensed physician satisfactory to
both you and the Company; provided that if you and the Company
cannot agree as to a licensed physician, then each will select a
licensed physician and these two together will select a third
licensed physician, whose determination as to Disability will be
binding on you and the Company. You, your legal representative or
any adult member of your immediate family will have the right to
present to the Company and such licensed physician such information
and arguments on your behalf as you or they deem appropriate,
including the opinion of your personal physician.
(2) Your
employment will terminate automatically on your death.
6. The
Company’s Obligations in Connection With Your
Termination.
(a)
General Effect. On a termination of your employment in
accordance with Section 5, your employment will end, and the
Group will have no further obligations to you, except as provided
in this Section 6.
(b)
For Good Reason or Without Cause. If, during the term of
this Agreement, the Company terminates your employment without
Cause or you terminate your employment for Good Reason:
(1) The Company
will pay to you within 10 days of the date of the termination
of your employment your accrued but unpaid Salary.
(2) The Company
will pay to you within 10 days of the date of the termination
of your employment, as a severance payment, $4,000,000.
(3) Your
Make-Whole Restricted Stock (but, for purposes of clarity, not your
Sign-On Options) will immediately vest in full.
(4) Your Other
Restricted Stock will be treated as follows:
(A) If the
termination of your employment occurs on or after the first
anniversary of the Start Date, 25% of the Other Restricted Stock
will immediately vest; and
(B) If the
termination of your employment occurs on or after the third
anniversary of the Start Date (including, for purposes of clarity,
by the failure of the Company to provide you with a Renewal Notice
at the end of the Initial Term), an additional 25% of the Other
Restricted Stock will immediately vest (such that, for purposes of
clarity, an aggregate of 50% of the Other Restricted Stock shall be
vested as of such date in such circumstance).
(5) For two
(2) years, the Company will provide you and your family with
coverage substantially identical to that provided to other senior
executives of the Group in its medical, dental, vision, long-term
disability and life insurance programs (subject in the case of life
insurance to insurability at standard rates), or the after-tax
equivalent in cash at the Company’s discretion.
(c)
For Cause or without Good Reason, for your Disability or
Death. In the event that your employment is terminated due to
(i) a termination by the Company for Cause, (ii) your
resignation without Good Reason, or (iii) a termination of
your employment on account of your death or Disability, the Company
will pay to you an amount equal to your accrued but unpaid Salary
through the date of such termination, and, in the case of death or
Disability, (x) the Company will continue to provide you
and/or your family with coverage substantially identical to that
provided to other senior executives of the Group in its medical,
dental, long-term disability and life insurance programs (subject
in the case of life insurance to insurability at standard rates)
for 12 months following the date of such termination and
(y) all unvested equity awards (including but not limited to
all equity awards provided for in Section 3(c) hereof) will
immediately vest.
(d)
Change in Control. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the
event that your employment is terminated under circumstances
constituting a Covered Termination (as defined in the Executive
Termination Benefits Agreement between you and the Company attached
hereto as Exhibit E (the “ Change in Control
Agreement ”)) during the Protected Period (as defined in
the Change in Control Agreement), this Section 6 will be of no
force or effect, and the provisions of the Change in Control
Agreement will govern.
(e)
Condition. The Company expressly conditions its provision of
all payments and benefits due to you pursuant to this
Section 6 on receipt from you of a full release of all claims
against the Group, and its officers, directors, and affiliates, in
substantially the form attached as Exhibit F.
(f)
Sole Remedy. Your rights set out in this Section 6 will
constitute your sole and exclusive rights and remedies as a result
of your actual or constructive termination of employment without
Cause or for Good Reason, and you hereby waive any such other
claims against the Group in such event.
7.
Proprietary Information.
(a) The
Group owns and has developed and compiled, and will own, develop
and compile, certain proprietary techniques and confidential
information which have great value to its business (referred to in
this Agreement, collectively, as “ Confidential
Information ”). Confidential Information includes not
only information disclosed by the Group to you, but also
information developed or learned by you during the course or as a
result of employment hereunder, which information you acknowledge
is and will be the sole and exclusive property of the Group.
Confidential Information includes all proprietary information that
has or could have commercial value or other utility in the business
in which the Group is engaged or contemplates engaging, and all
proprietary information the unauthorized disclosure of which could
be detrimental to the interests of the Group, whether or not such
information is specifically labeled as Confidential Information,
and includes any and all information developed, obtained or owned
by the Group concerning trade secrets, techniques, know-how
(including designs, plans, procedures, merchandising know-how,
processes and research records), software, computer programs,
innovations, discoveries, improvements, research, development,
tests results, reports, specifications, data, formats, marketing
data and plans, business plans, strategies, forecasts, unpublished
financial information, orders, agreements and other forms of
documents, price and cost information, merchandising opportunities,
expansion plans, designs, store plans, budgets, projections,
customer, supplier and subcontractor identities, characteristics
and agreements, and salary, staffing and employment information.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, Confidential Information will not in
any event include information that (i) was generally known or
generally available to the public prior to its disclosure to you;
(ii) becomes generally known or generally available to the
public subsequent to disclosure to you through no wrongful act of
any person or (iii) you are required to disclose by applicable
law, regulation, or legal process (provided, that unless prohibited
by law, you provide the Company with prior notice of the
contemplated disclosure and reasonably cooperate with the Company
at the Company’s expense in seeking a protective order or
other appropriate protection of such information).
(b) You
acknowledge and agree that in the performance of your duties
hereunder the Group will from time to time disclose to you and
entrust you with Confidential Information. You also acknowledge and
agree that the unauthorized disclosure of Confidential Information,
among other things, may be prejudicial to the Group’s
interests, an invasion of privacy and an improper disclosure of
trade secrets. You agree that you will not, directly or indirectly,
use, make available, sell, disclose or otherwise communicate to any
corporation, partnership, individual or other third party, other
than in the course of your assigned duties and for the benefit of
the Group, any Confidential Information, either during the Term of
Employment or thereafter.
(c) In
the event your employment with the Company ceases for any reason,
you will not remove from the Group’s premises without its
prior written consent any records, files, drawings, documents,
equipment, materials or writings received from, created for or
belonging to the Group, including those which relate to or contain
Confidential Information, or any copies thereof. Upon request or
when your employment with the Company terminates, you will
immediately deliver the same to the Company.
(d) During
the Term of Employment, you will disclose to the Company all
designs, inventions and business strategies or plans developed by
you during such period which relate directly or indirectly to the
business of the Group, including without limitation any process,
operation, product or improvement. You agree that all of the
foregoing are and will be the sole and exclusive property of the
Group and that you will at the Company’s request and cost do
whatever is necessary to secure the rights thereto, by patent,
copyright or otherwise, to the Group.
(e) You
and the Company agree that you will not disclose to the Group or
use for the Group’s benefit, any information which may
constitute trade secrets or confidential information of third
parties, to the extent you have any such secrets or
information.
8. Ongoing
Restrictions on Your Activities.
(a) You
acknowledge and agree (1) that the services to be rendered by
you for the Group are of a special, unique, extraordinary and
personal character, (2) that you have and will continue to
develop a personal acquaintance and relationship with one or more
of the Group’s customers, employees, suppliers and
independent contractors, which may constitute the Group’s
primary or only contact with such customers, employees, suppliers
and independent contractors, and (3) that you will be uniquely
identified by customers, employees, suppliers, independent
contractors and retail consumers with the Group’s products.
You acknowledge that you have been represented by counsel and fully
understand the provisions of this Agreement. Consequently, you
agree that it is fair, reasonable and necessary for the protection
of the business, operations, assets and reputation of the Group
that you make the covenants contained in this
Section 8.
(b) You
agree that, during the Term of Employment and for a period of
18 months thereafter, you will not, directly or indirectly,
own, manage, operate, join, control, participate in, invest in or
otherwise be connected or associated with, in any manner, including
as an officer, director, employee, partner, consultant, advisor,
proprietor, trustee or investor, any Competing Business in the
United States; provided, however, that nothing contained in this
Section 8(b) will prevent you from owning less than 2% of the
voting stock of a publicly held corporation for investment
purposes. For purposes of this Section 8(b), the term
“Competing Business” will mean a business engaged in
the design, manufacture, distribution or marketing of better
apparel and related products that competes with any business then
being operated by the Company (except where such competition is de
minimis) provided that the Company was operating such business
during the Term of Employment.
(c) You
agree that, during the Term of Employment and for a period of
18 months thereafter, you will not, directly or
indirectly,
(1) persuade
or seek to persuade any customer of the Group to cease to do
business or to reduce the amount of business which any customer has
customarily done or contemplates doing with the Group, whether or
not the relationship between the Group and such customer was
originally established in whole or in part through your
efforts;
(2) seek
to employ or engage, or assist anyone else to seek to employ or
engage, any person (other than your executive assistant) who at any
time during the year preceding the termination of your employment
hereunder was in the employ of the Group or was an independent
contractor providing material manufacturing, marketing, sales,
financial or management consulting services in connection with the
business of the Group and with whom you had regular contact;
or
(3) interfere
in any manner in the relationship of the Group with any of its
suppliers or independent contractors, whether or not the
relationship between the Group and such supplier or independent
contractor was originally established in whole or in part by your
efforts.
As used in this
Section 8, the terms “customer” and
“supplier” will mean and include any individual,
proprietorship, partnership, corporation, joint venture, trust or
any other form of business entity which is then a customer or
supplier, as the case may be, of the Group or which was such a
customer or supplier at any time during the one-year period
immediately preceding the date of termination of
employment.
(d) You
and the Company agree that, during your employment and for a period
of 18 months thereafter, you and it will take no action which is
intended, or would be reasonably expected, to harm, in the case of
you, the Group or its reputation or which would reasonably be
expected to lead to unwanted or unfavorable publicity to the Group
and, in the case of the Company, you or your reputation or which
would reasonably be expected to lead to unwanted or unfavorable
publicity to you.
(e) You
acknowledge that the Company and the Group would sustain
irreparable harm and injury in the event of a violation by you of
any of the provisions of Sections 7 and 8, and by reason
thereof, you consent and agree that if you violate any of such
provisions, in addition to any other remedies available, the
Company and the Group will be entitled to a decree specifically
enforcing such provisions, and will be entitled to a temporary and
permanent injunction restraining you from committing or continuing
any such violation, from any court of competent jurisdiction (as
more fully described in Section 11(d) hereof), without the
necessity of proving actual damages, posting any bond or seeking
arbitration in any forum.
(a)
Payments on Your Death. If you die and any amounts become
payable under this Agreement, we will pay those amounts to your
estate within 30 days of the date of your death.
(b)
Assignment by You. You may not assign this Agreement without
the Company’s consent. Also, except as required by law, your
right to receive payments or benefits under this Agreement may not
be subject to execution, attachment, levy or similar process. Any
attempt to effect any of the preceding in violation of this
Section 9(b), whether voluntary or involuntary, will be
void.
(c)
Company’s Successors. The rights and obligations of
the Company hereunder will be binding upon the successors and
assigns of the Company and run in favor of any successor and any
assignee of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company
provided that such successor or assignee agrees in writing to
assume all of the obligations of the Company under this Agreement.
No such assumption will relieve the Company of its liability to you
under this Agreement.
You agree
that the Group will have the right to obtain and maintain life
insurance on your life, at its expense, and for its benefit. You
agree to cooperate fully with the Group in obtaining such life
insurance, to sign any necessary consents, applications and other
related forms or documents and to take any required medical
examinations.
(a)
Employment Matter. This Section 11 applies to any
controversy or claim between you and the Group arising out of or
relating to or concerning this Agreement or any aspect of your
employment with the Group or the termination of that employment
(together, an “ Employment Matter ”).
(b)
Mandatory Arbitration. Subject to the provisions of this
Section 11, any Employment Matter will be finally settled by
arbitration in the County of New York administered by the American
Arbitration Association under its Commercial Arbitration Rules then
in effect . However, the rules will be modified in the
following ways: each arbitrator will agree to treat as confidential
evidence and other information presented to the same extent as the
information is required to be kept confidential under
Section 7, a decision must be rendered within 10 business days
of the parties’ closing statements or submission of
post-hearing briefs and the arbitration will be conducted before a
panel of three arbitrators, one selected by you within 10 days
of the commencement of arbitration, one selected by the Company in
the same period and the third selected jointly by these arbitrators
(or, if they are unable to agree on an arbitrator within
30 days of the commencement of arbitration, the third
arbitrator will be appointed by the American Arbitration
Association; provided that the arbitrator will be a partner
or former partner at a nationally recognized law firm).
(c)
Limitation on Damages. You and the Group agree that there
will be no punitive damages payable as a result of any Employment
Matter and agree not to request punitive damages.
(d)
Injunctions and Enforcement of Arbitration Awards. You or
the Group may bring an action or special proceeding in a state or
federal court of competent jurisdiction sitting in the County of
New York to enforce any arbitration award under Section 11(b).
Also, the Group may bring such an action or proceeding, in addition
to its rights under Section 11(b) and whether or not an arbitration
proceeding has been or is ever initiated, to temporarily,
preliminarily or permanently enforce any part of Sections 7
and 8.
(e)
Jurisdiction and Choice of Forum. You and the Group
irrevocably submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of any state or
federal court located in the County of New York over any Employment
Matter that is not otherwise arbitrated or resolved according to
Section 11(b). This includes any action or proceeding to
compel arbitration or to enforce an arbitration award. Both you and
the Group acknowledge that the forum stated in this Section 11(e)
has a reasonable relation to this Agreement and to the relationship
between you and the Group and that the submission to the forum will
apply even if the forum chooses to apply non-forum law, waive, to
the extent permitted by law, any objection to personal jurisdiction
or to the laying of venue of any action or proceeding covered by
this Section 11(e) in the forum stated in this Section, agree not
to commence any such action or proceeding in any forum other than
the forum stated in this Section 11(e) and agree that, to the
extent permitted by law, a final and non-appealable judgment in any
such action or proceeding in any such court will be conclusive and
binding on you and the Group. However, nothing in this Agreement
precludes you or the Group from bringing any action or proceeding
in any court for the purpose of enforcing the provisions of
Sections 11(b) and this 11(e).
(f)
Governing Law. This Agreement will be governed by and
construed in accordance with the law of the State of New York
applicable to contracts made and to be performed entirely within
that State.
(g)
Costs. In the event that (1) you make a claim against
the Company under this Agreement, (2) the Company disputes
such claim, and (3) you prevail with respect to such disputed
claim, then the Company will reimburse you for your reasonable
costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees)
incurred by you in pursuing such disputed claim.
It is the
parties’ intention that the benefits and rights to which you
could become entitled in connection with your employment under this
Agreement comply with Section 409A of the Internal Revenue
Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder. If you or the
Company believes, at any time, that any of such benefit or right
does not so comply, you or it will promptly advise the other party
and will negotiate reasonably and in good faith to amend the terms
of such arrangement
such that it
complies (with the most limited possible economic effect on you and
on the Company).
(1) References to
Sections are to sections of this Agreement unless otherwise
stated; to any contract (including this Agreement) are to
the contract as amended, modified, supplemented or replaced from
time to time; to any statute, rule or regulation are
to the statute, rule or regulation as amended, modified,
supplemented or replaced from time to time (and, in the case of
statutes, include any rules and regulations promulgated under the
statute) and to any section of any statute, rule or
regulation include any successor to the section; to any g
overnmental authority include any successor to the
governmental authority; to any plan include any programs,
practices and policies; to any entity include any
corporation, limited liability company, partnership, association,
business trust and similar organization and include any
governmental authority; and to any affiliate of any entity
are to any person or other entity directly or indirectly
controlling, controlled by or under common control with the first
entity.
(2) The various
headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference
only and in no way define, limit or describe the scope or intent of
any provisions or Sections of this Agreement.
(3) Unless the
context requires otherwise, words describing the singular number
include the plural and vice versa , words denoting any
gender include all genders and the words “ include
”, “ includes ” and “
including ” will be deemed to be followed by the words
“without limitation.”
(4) It is your and
the Group’s intention that this Agreement not be construed
more strictly with regard to you or the Group.
(5) This Agreement
contains the entire understanding and agreement between the parties
concerning the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior
agreements, understandings, discussions, negotiations and
undertakings, whether written or oral, between the parties with
respect thereto.
(6) If any
provision of any agreement, plan, program, policy, arrangement or
other written document between or relating to the Company and you
conflicts with any provision of this Agreement, the provision of
this Agreement will control and prevail.
(b)
Withholding. You and the Group will treat all payments to
you under this Agreement as compensation for services as an
employee. Accordingly, the Group will withhold from any payment any
taxes that are required to be withheld
under any law,
rule or regulation (and, for the purpose of clarity, all amounts
set forth herein will represent gross amounts in U. S. dollars,
prior to the deduction for employment and income taxes).
(c)
No Conflict. You represent and warrant that you are not a
party to or subject to any agreement, contract, understanding,
covenant, judgment or decree or under any obligation, contractual
or otherwise, in any way restricting or adversely affecting your
ability to act for the Group in all of the respects contemplated
hereby. The Company represents and warrants that it is fully
authorized and empowered to enter into this Agreement and that the
performance of its obligations under this Agreement will not
violate any agreement between it and any other person, firm or
organization.
(d)
Indemnification . The Company shall provide you with
director and officer indemnification to the fullest extent
permissible under the Company’s charter and by-laws as in
effect from time to time.
(e)
Severability. If any provision of this Agreement is found by
any court of competent jurisdiction (or legally empowered agency)
to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable for any reason, then the
provision will be amended automatically to the minimum extent
necessary to cure the illegality or invalidity and permit
enforcement and the remainder of this Agreement will not be
affected. In particular, if any provision of Section 8 is so
found to violate law or be unenforceable because it applies for
longer than a maximum permitted period or to greater than a maximum
permitted area, it will be automatically amended to apply for the
maximum permitted period and maximum permitted area.
(f)
No Set-off or Mitigation. Your and the Company’s
respective obligations under this Agreement will not be affected by
any set-off, counterclaim, recoupment or other right you or any
member of the Group may have against each other or anyone else. You
do not need to seek other employment or take any other action to
mitigate any amounts owed to you under this Agreement, and those
amounts will not be reduced if you do obtain other employment
(except as this Agreement specifically states).
(g)
Notices. All notices, requests, demands and other
communications under this Agreement must be in writing and will be
deemed given on the business day sent, when delivered by hand or
facsimile transmission (with confirmation) during normal business
hours, on the business day after the business day sent, if
delivered by a nationally recognized overnight courier or on the
third business day after the business day sent if delivered by
registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, in each
case to the following address or number (or to such other addresses
or numbers as may be specified by notice that conforms to this
Section13(f)):
If to you,
to the address stated in the heading of this Agreement, or any
changed address on the books and records of the Company from time
to time, and with a copy to:
Stewart
Reifler, Esq.
Vedder, Price, Kaufman & Kammholz, P.C.
805 Third Avenue
New York, NY 10022
Facsimile:
(212) 407-7799
If to the
Company or any other member of the Group, to:
Liz Claiborne,
Inc.
One Claiborne Avenue
North Bergen, NJ 07047
Attention: General Counsel
(h)
Amendments and Waivers. Any provision of this Agreement may
be amended or waived but only if the amendment or waiver is in
writing and signed, in the case of an amendment, by you and the
Company or, in the case of a waiver, by the party that would have
benefited from the provision waived. Except as this Agreement
otherwise provides, no failure or delay by you or the Group to
exercise any right or remedy under this Agreement will operate as a
waiver, and no partial exercise of any right or remedy will
preclude any further exercise.
(i)
Survival . To the extent that any provision of this
Agreement would require the survival of such provision beyond the
Term of Employment in order to effectuate its intent, such
provision shall survive the Term of Employment according to its
terms.
(j)
Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in
counterparts, each of which will constitute an original and all of
which, when taken together, will constitute one
agreement.
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Very truly
yours,
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Liz Claiborne,
Inc.
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By:
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/s/ Paul R.
Charron
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Exhibits A through D and F
(Equity Awards and Release)
Liz Claiborne, Inc.
2006 Stock Option Grant Confirmation
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Grant Date:
“Start Date” (as defined in the Employment
Agreement)
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Number of
Shares:
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185,200
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Exercise
Price:
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[Fair market
value of Company stock on Grant Date]
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Vesting
Schedule:
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25% on the
first anniversary of grant
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25% on the
second anniversary of grant
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50% on the
third anniversary of grant
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WHILE EVERY EFFORT HAS BEEN MADE TO
ENSURE THE ACCURACY OF THIS INFORMATION, THESE FIGURES ARE SUBJECT
TO FINAL AUDIT.
THE GRANT OF AN OPTION SHALL NOT
CONFER ON THE RECIPIENT ANY RIGHT TO CONTINUE IN THE EMPLOY OR
OTHER SERVICE OF THE COMPANY, OR AFFECT ANY RIGHT WHICH THE COMPANY
MAY HAVE TO TERMINATE SUCH EMPLOYMENT OR SERVICE.
Stock Option Grant Certificate
— Terms and Conditions
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1.
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Option Grant —
Pursuant to the Liz
Claiborne, Inc. 2005 Stock Incentive Plan (the “Plan”),
Liz Claiborne, Inc. (the “Company”) hereby grants to
the person named on the applicable grant confirmation statement
(the “Optionee”) a nonqualified stock option (the
“Option”) to purchase the number of shares of common
stock of the Company at a purchase price as specified on the
applicable grant confirmation statement. It is intended that the
Option shall not qualify as an “incentive stock option”
as defined in section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended.
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2.
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Exercisability —
Subject to the further
terms included herein, the Option shall become exercisable on the
date or dates indicated on the grant confirmation statement,
provided in each case that the Optionee is then and has at all
times since the grant date remained an employee or otherwise in the
service of the Company. Unless earlier terminated pursuant to the
provisions of the Plan; the unexercised portion of the Option shall
expire and cease to be on the seventh anniversary of the grant date
of the option. The Option may be partially exercised from time to
time up to the amount of shares exercisable at such time as set
forth above.
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3.
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Exercising Options
— Subject to the terms and conditions
of the Plan, the Optionee may exercise Options by giving notice of
exercise to the Company accompanied by payment of the aggregate
Option exercise price for the shares being purchased together with
any amount which the Company or its subsidiaries may be required to
withhold upon such exercise in respect of applicable foreign,
federal, state and local taxes, all in such manner as specified
from time to time by the Company. Each such exercise notice shall
specify the number of shares of Company common stock to be
purchased, the Option exercise price, the grant date, and such
other matters as may be required by the Company or the
Company’s Compensation Committee (the
“Committee”). Payment shall be made by certified or
official bank check, or, at the discretion of the Committee and to
the extent permitted by law, by such other means as the Committee
may from time to time permit.
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4.
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Termination of
Employment
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4.1
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If
the Optionee’s employment terminates for any reason other
than retirement, disability, death, dismissal for
“Cause” or resignation without “Good
Reason” (each as defined in the Optionee’s employment
agreement dated October 13, 2006 (the “Employment
Agreement”)), the Optionee may exercise the Option — to
the extent it was exercisable at the time of such termination
(taking into account the terms of Section 4(d) of the
Optionee’s Liz Claiborne, Inc. Executive Termination Benefits
Agreement dated October 13, 2006 (the “Executive
Termination Benefits Agreement”)) — until the earlier
of the seventh anniversary of the grant date of the Option
(pursuant to Section 2 above), and the expiration of three
months following the termination of employment; provided that if
the Optionee’s employment is terminated for “Good
Reason” or without “Cause” (each as defined in
the Employment Agreement), then the Optionee may exercise the
Option, to the extent exercisable at the time of such termination
(taking into account the terms of Section 4(d) of the Executive
Termination Benefits Agreement) until the earlier of the seventh
anniversary of the grant date of the Option (pursuant to
Section 2 above) and the expiration of one year following the
termination of employment.
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4.2
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If
the Optionee’s employment terminates due to the
Optionee’s retirement, the Optionee may exercise the Option
— to the extent it was exercisable at the time of such
termination — until the earlier of the seventh anniversary of
the grant date of the Option (pursuant to Section 2 above),
and the third anniversary of the Optionee’s Retirement.
“Retirement” shall mean the Optionee’s ceasing to
be employed by the Company and any of its affiliates (other than a
termination for cause or a resignation without the Company’s
prior consent) on or after Optionee’s 65th birthday, on or
after the date on which Optionee has attained age 60 and completed
at least six years of vesting service (as defined in and determined
under the Liz Claiborne Savings and Profit Sharing Plan, as the
same has been and may from time to time be amended) or, if approved
by the Committee, on or after the date the Optionee has completed
at least 20 years of vesting service.
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4.3
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If
the Optionee’s employment is terminated due to the
Optionee’s disability (as defined in the Plan), the Optionee
may exercise the Option — to the extent it was exercisable at
the time of such termination (taking into account the accelerated
vesting provision contained in Section 6(c) of the Employment
Agreement) — until the earlier of the seventh anniversary of
the grant date of the Option (pursuant to Section 2 above),
and the first anniversary of the date of the Optionee’s
termination of employment.
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4.4
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If
the Optionee dies while employed by the Company or after employment
terminates but during a period in which the option is exercisable
pursuant to Section 4.1, 4.2 or 4.3 above, the
Optionee’s beneficiaries may exercise the Option — to
the extent it was exercisable at the time of such termination
(taking into account the accelerated vesting provision contained in
Section 6(c) of the Employment Agreement) — until the earlier
of the seventh anniversary of the grant date of the Option
(pursuant to Section 2 above), and the first anniversary of
the Optionee’s death.
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4.5
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If
the Company terminates Optionee’s employment for
“Cause” or the Optionee resigns without “Good
Reason” (each as defined in the Employment Agreement), the
Option shall terminate upon the commencement of business on the
date of the Optionee’s termination of employment.
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5.
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Plan Provisions to Prevail
— The
Option is subject to all of the terms and provisions of the Plan
and the Employment Agreement. Without limiting the generality of
the foregoing, by accepting the grant of the Option the Optionee
agrees that no member of the Committee shall be liable for any
action or determination made in good faith with respect to the
Option, the Plan or any other award under the Plan. In the event
that there is any inconsistency between the provisions of this
Certificate and the Plan, the provisions of the Plan shall govern.
In the event that there is any inconsistency between the provisions
of this Certificate and/or the Plan and the Employment Agreement,
the provisions of the Employment Agreement shall govern.
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6.
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Notices —
Any notice to be given
to the Company hereunder shall be in writing and shall be addressed
to the Chief Financial Officer, Liz Claiborne, Inc., One Claiborne
Avenue, North Bergen, NJ 07047, or at such other address as the
Company may hereafter designate to the Optionee by notice as
provided in this Section 6. Any notice to be given to the
Optionee hereunder shall be addressed to the Optionee’s home
address of record, or at such other address as the Optionee may
hereafter designate to the Company by notice as provided herein. A
notice shall be deemed to have been duly given when personally
delivered or mailed by registered or certified mail to the party
entitled to receive it.
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7.
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Right of Discharge Preserved
— The
grant of the Option and the terms set forth in this Certificate
shall not confer upon the Optionee the right to continue in the
employ or other service of the Company, nor shall it affect any
right that the Company may have to terminate such employment or
service.
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8.
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Transferability/Exercise After
Death —
The Option is not assignable or transferable otherwise than by will
or by the laws of descent and distribution. The Option may be
exercised only by the Optionee or the Optionee’s legal
representative or, after the Optionee’s death, by the
Optionee’s executor or administrator or other duly appointed
representative reasonably acceptable to the Committee, unless the
Participant’s will specifically disposes of the Option, in
which case the Option may be exercised only by the recipient of
such specific disposition. Any such individual or entity that
exercises the Option after the Optionee’s death shall be
bound by all the terms and conditions of the Plan and this
Certificate.
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9.
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Entire Agreement —
This Certificate and the
Plan contain all of the terms of the Option and supersede all prior
agreements and understandings between the Company and the Optionee
with respect to the Option.
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10.
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Successors and Assigns
— The
terms of this Certificate shall be binding upon and inure to the
benefit of the Company and the Optionee and the successors and
assigns of the Company and, to the extent consistent with
Section 4.4 above and with the Plan, the heirs and personal
representatives of the Optionee.
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11.
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Governing Law —
The Option and this
Certificate shall be interpreted, construed and administered in
accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware.
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12.
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Receipt of Prospectus
— By
accepting delivery of this Certificate, the Optionee acknowledges
that he or she has received a copy of the Prospectus relating to
the options and the shares of Company common stock covered thereby
under the Plan.
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Liz Claiborne, Inc.
2006 Stock Option Grant Confirmation
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Grant Date:
“Start Date” (as defined in the Employment
Agreement)
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Number of
Shares:
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63,150
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Exercise
Price:
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[1.2 multiplied
by fair market value of Company stock on Grant Date]
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Vesting
Schedule:
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25% on the
first anniversary of grant
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25% on the
second anniversary of grant
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50% on the
third anniversary of grant
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WHILE EVERY EFFORT HAS BEEN MADE TO
ENSURE THE ACCURACY OF THIS INFORMATION, THESE FIGURES ARE
SUBJECT TO FINAL AUDIT.
THE GRANT OF AN OPTION SHALL NOT
CONFER ON THE RECIPIENT ANY RIGHT TO CONTINUE IN THE EMPLOY OR
OTHER SERVICE OF THE COMPANY, OR AFFECT ANY RIGHT WHICH THE COMPANY
MAY HAVE TO TERMINATE SUCH
EMPLOYMENT OR SERVICE.
Stock Option Grant Certificate
— Terms and Conditions
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1.
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Option Grant —
Pursuant to the Liz
Claiborne, Inc. 2005 Stock Incentive Plan (the “Plan”),
Liz Claiborne, Inc. (the “Company”) hereby grants to
the person named on the applicable grant confirmation statement
(the “Optionee”) a nonqualified stock option (the
“Option”) to purchase the number of shares of common
stock of the Company at a purchase price as specified on the
applicable grant confirmation statement. It is intended that the
Option shall not qualify as an “incentive s
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